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Red Deer Rampage split weekend series

While the excuses are a plenty, the execution for the Red Deer Rampage was nowhere near the expectations of the coaching staff.
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Red Deer Rampage player Nate Belanger drives to the net on Sunday in a 9-5 loss at the Kinex against the Manitoba Blizzard. (Photo by Byron Hackett/ Advocate staff)

While the excuses are a plenty, the execution for the Red Deer Rampage was nowhere near the expectations of the coaching staff.

The Rampage earned a 1-1 split with the visiting Manitoba Blizzard in Rocky Mountain Lacrosse league Junior B Tier 1 play, with a 12-10 win Saturday followed by a 9-5 loss Sunday afternoon at the Kinex.

Head coach Trey Christensen said despite a full 25-man roster, the team needed to call up three players because of injuries and several other players unavailable. Still, the head coach didn’t like what he saw Sunday.

“Just lifeless at the end of it. We’ll figure it out at the end of the day it’s just one weekend. It’s a good learning experience for our guys, that they have to show up all the time,” he said.

Christensen struggled to find too many positives from the weekend despite his team collecting a win Saturday and remaining a top the standings five games into the season.

“We didn’t lose to a better team, we just didn’t show up,” he said.

“(Saturday) we flicked the switch for 10 minutes in the game and managed to pull it out. It’s just us learning to show up for games. Prepare properly, just learning experience and trial and error.”

In the victory Saturday, Teren Christensen and Nate Belanger potted hat tricks along with Ben Arifin and Riley Woytas adding two goals a piece. Jeremy Klessens also scored for the Rampage.

On Sunday, Arifin scored twice, Christensen, Logan Clarkson and Blayne Friesen also found the back of the net.

Overall, Christensen was confident his team will bounce back as the season moves forward.

“We’re still in first in the standings. Just a rough weekend more or less. All rough patches along the way, it’s good growing pains,” he said.

byron.hackett@reddeeradvocate.com



Byron Hackett

About the Author: Byron Hackett

Byron has been the sports reporter at the advocate since December of 2016. He likes to spend his time in cold hockey arenas accompanied by luke warm, watered down coffee.
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